(Photo Credit: SaJorden Miller / The SkyBoat)
John Hunter Nemechek in the No. 42 Fire Alarms Services Inc. Chevrolet was a bit squirrely and eager early on. On Lap 10 Elliott Sadler in the No. 1 Cessna Chevrolet got into the back of Nemechek in the No. 42 who then slammed into the No. 00 Hass Automation Ford of Cole Custer, who got loose and slammed into the outside wall at the start/finish line to bring out the first caution of the day.
As the field got back to green on lap 16, Bell was still out in front. However, a great restart from Kevin Harvick in the No. 98 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford sent him past Bell for the lead. Harvick then pulled out to a second and a half lead on Bell in 2nd just 10 laps later.
With just five laps to go in stage 1, the caution came out once again, this time for tire debris from the No. 5 Pilot Flying J of Michael Annett. This would setup a 1 lap shootout to end-stage one with Logano in the lead as he elected to stay out on the track and dismiss pitstops.
Most of the rest of the field pitted, including the No. 98 of Harvick, who restarted in 10th. However, the fresh tires on Harvick’s Ford proved to be enough to get him into the lead as the green-white-checkered flew to end-stage one.
